Marking machine



March 11, 1941. c. D. TlLSON 2,234,536

MARKING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

March 11, 1941. c. D. TILSON MARKING MACHINE iled July 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 l INF/EFFECT:

March 11, 19-41. c. D. TILSON 2,234,536

MARKING MACHINE Filed July 25, 19:59 4 Sheets-Sheet s March 11, 1941. c. D. TILSON MARKING MACHINE Filed July 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 lllllllllllrllllllfiw a Patented Mar. 11, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE N. Y., a corporation of New York, and Parshad Holding Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 25, 1939, Serial No. 286,388

4 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for marking shoe upper sections or similar pieces of sheet material, the present application being a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 231,385, filed September 23, 1938.

In the manufacture of shoes, particularly womens shoes, it is customary to apply ornamental designs to the shoe uppers, as by stitching, perforating or embossing. Usually the ornamental designs are applied to the cut-out sections of the uppers before they are assembled in the shoe; and in the case of stitching, the designs are first marked on the shoe uppers and the marked designs are then followed in the stitching. In accordance with the customary practice, the design may be impressed upon the shoe upper section, or similar article of sheet material, by a marking plate on which the desired pattern is formed by bosses formed from the material of the plate and disposed in lines, rows or other arrangements, to delineate the design. The marking plate may then be pressed against a transfer sheet having its pigmented surface disposed against the shoe upper section or other piece of work to be marked, and the design displayed by the bosses will then be printed or impressed on the work. A similar method may be used without the transfer sheet for merely embossing a piece of leather, in which case the marking plate will be embossed in accordance with the desired design, or for perforating the work, in which case the marking plate will be made with bosses in the form of cutting punches of such shape and arrangement as to cut holes or perforations in the work, shaped and arranged according to the desired design.

Printing or marking, perforating and embossing, whether used separately or in various combinations at the same time, are all included in the expression marking as herein used; and the term marking plate is used to designate the plate for applying the design to the work whether the plate is constructed for printing from a transfer sheet, or for perforating, or for embossing, or for any combination of these operations.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a marking machine for carrying out the aforementioned operations; to provide a machine constructed so as to ensure a smooth, efficient and reliable operation, avoiding shocks which tend to effect a displacement of the marking instrumentalities; and to provide a marking machine which is of simple design and of strong and durable construction and in which means are provided for using interchangeable marking and I9 so that their inwardly extending margins plates which may be readily and accuratelypositioned.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and ac-- companying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view, with parts broken away and shown in section, of a marking machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of a part of the "mechanism for supporting the transfer web;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the marking plate and holder;

Fig. 5 is a section onthe line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-1 of Fig. 3; and

Figs. 8 and 9 are sections on the lines 8--8 and 99, respectively, of Fig. 7.

The particular embodiment herein shown comprises a base frame It) having a work bed H, which supports a sponge rubber pad l2 carrying. a heavy sheet of fiber board or the like material l3, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The rear end of the pad l2 abuts a transverse bar l4 (Figs. 3 and '7 to 9), which is rigidly secured in fixed position on the top of the bed II by screws l5 and the front end of the pad abuts a similar transverse bar l6 which is adjustably clamped to one of the flanges of a transversely extending angle'iron Il rigidly secured to the front end of the frame Ill.

The rear of the sheet [3 abuts a transverse bar [8 rigidly secured to the top of the bar I4 by means of the screws l5, and its front end abuts a transverse bar l9 adjustably fixed in position upon the top of the bar [6, as shown in Figs. 7 to 9. The two pairs of bars [4, l8 and I6, I9 thus provide a pocket within which the pad l2 and sheet I3 snugly fit, and in order to prevent accidental upward displacement two pairs of retaining lugs 20 are riveted or otherwise secured to the bars I8 overlie the sheet l3.

The sheet I3 is formed at its front and rear ends with marginal recesses 2| which receive projection's 22 formed on the inner edge of the bars [8 and I9, as shown in Fig. 7, thereby holding the sheet l3 against transverse displacement, it being noted that the bars l8 and i9 are effective to hold the sheet l3 against longitudinal displacement. The two bars [6 and I9 are formed with registering threaded apertures which receivescrews 23 having their shanks extending downwardly through longitudinal slots 24 (Figs. 1 and. 7) formed in the horizontal flange of the angle iron H. The lower end of the screws are provided with thumb nuts 25 (Figs. 3 and 6) by means of which the two bars I6 and I9 are securely clamped to the angleiron thus permittingready installation and removal of the sheet l3.

The work W to be marked is placed upon the top of the sheet |3, as shown in Figs. 1 and 7, and in order to ensure accurate positioning thereof, the top face of sheet I3 is provided with an elevated gauge 26 (Fig. '7) which consists of an appropriately shaped piece of fiber board cemented or otherwise secured in position on the sheet l3. The particular work-supporting and positioning sheet l3 here shown is constructed for use in connection with vamps of a given size or shape, and it is to be understood that when the character of the work is changed another sheet l3 appropriate to the new work may be readily substituted.

Pivotally connected at their lower ends to brackets 21 (Figs. 1, 3, 6 and 7) fixed to the base I0 of the machine are two pairs of parallel links 28, the upper ends of which are pivotally connected in pairs to the opposite ends and sides of a platen 29 which is preferably made of aluminum. Adjacent to its central portion the platen 29 is formed with openings through which the poles of a plurality of permanent horseshoeshaped magnets 30 extend, their ends preferably terminating adjacent to the plane or the bottom surface of the platen 29, as shown in Fig. 5. One

side of each of the magnets 30 is brazedor otherwise secured to one of the flanges of an angle iron 3| (Figs. 1 and 6), the other flange of which is fasten-ed by screws in position upon the top of the platen; When thus positioned the magnets 30 are effective to hold a steel marking plate carrier 32 in fixed position against the bottom side of the platen, the carrier being accurately positioned relative to the work W on the bed and held against displacement relative to the platen by two studs or pins 33 and 34 (Figs. 1 and 5) carried by and projecting from the bottom of the platen 29. The pin 33 projects into an aperture 35 (Fig. 4) formed in the die carrier and the pin 34 projects into a longitudinal slot 36 extending inwardly from the rear edge of the carrierplate, the open end of the slot being formed relatively wide and flaring so as tov facilitate engagement of the carrier with the pin 34. At its front end the carrier plate 32 is provided with an extension 31 constituting a handle for use in positioning the carrier against the bottom of the platen and in removing the carrier from the machine. When the carrier is properly positioned,

' the handle 31 projects forwardly beyond the front of the platen so as to be readily accessible.

A marking plate or die 4| is fastened in posi- -tion against theunder side of the carrier 32 by rivets or the like elements, and the operating face of the plate is formed with aseries of small projections or bosses 42 delineating the design to be impressed upon the work. When the carrier 32 .is in position beneath the platen, the marking plate 4| is disposed just above a transfer web 43 (Fig-3) coated with a pigment of suitable color. The opposite portions of the web are connected .with' two spindles 44 disposed at opposite sides of the platen and each of the spindles'is rotatably supported adjacent to its ends'within socket bear- 7| ings formed in brackets 45 "whichare fastened in position on the top of the platen, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. Leaf springs 46 (Fig. l) are provided yieldingly and removably to retain the spindles within the sockets, and these springs are also effective frictionally to oppose free rotation of the spindles.

Adjacent to its forward end each spindle is reduced in diameter and split longitudinally, as shown in Fig. 2, the outer end of the split portion terminating in a hemispherical head 41 which has a pressed fit within the bore 48 of the hub of a hand wheel 49. The split end of the spindle thus serves as a clutch which yieldingly opposes withdrawal of the hand wheel from the end of the spindle. A pin 50 projects radially from the spindle into a-longitudinal slot 5| formed in the hub of the wheel 49 and ensures rotation of the spindle when the wheel is turned. The slot 5| is open at its inner end so that the wheel may be forcibly removed from the spindle when desired.

As the portion of the web underlying the marking plate 4| becomes worn due to use, the opercarried by the rear links and thence downwardly to the hubs of the rear links to which their opposite ends are fastened. The springs provide elastic cables for yieldingly holding the platen in elevated or retracted position from which it may be swung downwardly and forwardly by means of a handle to cause the web 43 to be brought into operative position against the work W by the projections or bosses of the marking plate, thereby to print or mark the design on the work.

The lower hubs of both the front and rear links 28 are formed with forwardly extending crank arms 63 and the two arms at each side of the machine are connected by links 64, thus providing in efiect a four bar linkage at each side of the machine. The links 64 ensure a smooth and more reliable operation of the machine since in their absence the rear pair of links 28 tends to 55 are stretched and consequently it is merely necessary for the operator to release his grip on the handle 60 when the platen occupies its lowermost position, whereupon the springs 55 act through the arms 54 to retract the platen to elevated position, the extent of the return movement being yieldingly limited by the springs 55 without shock such as would be produced by a positive-acting stop.

While I have shown and described one desirable embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A marking machine of the class described comprising a base, a work bed on said base for receiving and holding in predetermined fixed position a shoe upper element or the like, a platen, a pair of front and rear parallel links for supporting said platen for movement toward and away from said work bed, means for. holding a marking plate in predetermined fixed position against the underside of said platen, and means for effecting a shock-free retraction of said platen when swung to marking position, said means comprising an outstanding part on one of said rear links, and an elongate elastic memer having one end fixed to said base and extending over said outstanding part with its opposite end operatively connected to one of said front links.

2. A marking machine of the class described comprising a base, a work bed on said base for receiving and holding in predetermined fixed position a shoe upper element or the like, a platen, a pair of front and rear parallel links for supporting said platen for movement toward and away from said work bed, magnetic means for holding a marking plate in predetermined fixed position against the underside of said platen, means for supporting a sheet of transfer material between a marking plate held by said magnetic means and a shoe upper element on said work bed, and means for effecting a shock-free retraction of said platen when swung to marking position, said means comprising an outstanding part on one of said rear links and an elongate elastic member having one end fixed to said base and extending over said outstanding part with its opposite end operatively connected to one of said front links.

3. A marking machine of the class described comprising a base, a work bed on said base for receiving and holding in predetermined fixed position a shoe upper element or the like, a platen, a pair of front and rear parallel links for supporting said platen for movement toward and away from said work bed, means for holding a marking plate in predetermined fixed position against the underside of said platen, and means for effecting a shock-free retraction of said platen when swung to marking position, said means comprising an outstanding part on one of said rear links, an upstanding arm associated with one of said front links, and an elongate elastic member having one end fixed to said base and extending over said outstanding part with its opposite end secured to said arm.

4:. A marking machine of the class described comprising a base, a Work bed on said base for r ceiving and holding in predetermined fixed position a shoe upper element or the like, a platen, a pair of front and rear parallel links for supporting said platen for movement toward and away from said Work bed, means for holding a marking plate in predetermined fixed position, against the underside of said platen, and means for effecting a shock-free retraction of said platen when swung to marking position, said means comprising a roller mounted on each of said rear links, and a pair of coiled tension springs having one of their ends fixed to said base and extending over said rollers with their opposite ends operatively connected to said front links.

CLAUDE D. TILSON. 

